Circuit controlling device



NOV. 15, 1938. a H, LELAND 2,136,699

CIRCUIT CONTROLLING DEVICE Filed Aug. 4, 1937 5 ShQGCS-Sheet 1 NW. 15, 1938. G. H. LELAND 2,136,699

CIRCUIT CONTROLLING DEVICE Filed Aug. 4, 1937 I5 Sheets-sheet 2 //VVE/VTL7/?. Fig-U HE REE LELAND.

his A TTUEWE Nov 15, 1938. I G, H. LELAND 2,E36,699

CIRCUIT CONTROLLING DEVICE Filed g- 4, 1957 .5 Sheets-Sheet s Fi 9.1 [fl his A TTUENEX Patented Nov. 15, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE George H. Leland, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to The Leland Electric Company, Dayton, Ohio, a. corporation of Ohio Application August 4, 1937, Serial No. 157,365

22 Claims.

This invention relates to a circuit controlling device and is adapted for various uses, such as a voltage changer, a reversing switch, or the like.

One object of the invention is to provide a circuit controlling device which will be simple in construction, compact in form and may be pro:

duced at a low cost.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a device in which the stationary contacts will be arranged substantially in a common plane and the movable contactors will be rotatable into circuit closing engagement with selected contacts, and which will have means for causing the contactors to firmly engage all of the selected contacts.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a device which can be adapted to different uses by changing the arrangement and the electrical connections of the stationary contacts and without substantial structural changes.

Other objects of the invention may appear as the device is described in detail.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a portion of electric motor showing my circuit controlling device installed therein to function as a voltage changer; Fig. 2 is a front elevation, of the circuit controlling de vice; Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the base with the movable member removed; Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the device. partly broken away; Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of the movable member; Fig. 6 is a section taken on. the line 6-5 of Fig. 2; Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic illustration of the device as shown in Figs. 1 to 6; Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic illustration of a form of the device adapted to function as a reversing switch; Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic illustration of another form of device adapted to function as a. reversing switch; fig. 10 is a diagrammatic illustration of a third form of the device adapted to function as a reversing switch; Fig. 11 is a detail view showing the bridging relation of one of the contactors with one pair of stationary contacts; Fig. 12 is a front elevation, partly broken away, of a modified form of the device adapted to control a plurality of circuits; Fig. 13 is a front elevation, partly broken away, of another modified form of the device 7 adapted to control a relatively large number of circuits; Fig. 14 is a section taken on the line |4--M of Fig. 13: and Fig. 15 is a section taken on the line l5--l5 of Fig. 13.

In the drawings I have illustrated certain embodiments of my invention and have illustrated the same as adapted for the most part for use with electric motors but it will be understood that the invention may take various forms and may be used for various purposes.

In that embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6 the device comprises a base it adapted to be mounted on a suitable support, such for example as the frame of an electric motor shown in Fig. 1. This base is provided with a circumferential flange 2| extending in the direction of its axis and providing in the outer face of the base a circular cavity 22, the rear wall of which is preferably flat. Mounted in the base and projecting into the cavity are a plurality of corn tacts, in the present instance six, as shownv at 2t, 25, 26, 21 and 28. The number and arrangement of these contacts is determined by the par ticular use to which the device is to be put. In the arrangement: here shown the contacts 23 to 25 are terminal contacts rigidly mounted in the base and provided on the rear side of the base with binding posts 29, here shown as screws hava for rotatory movement about an axis extending transversely to the plane of said contacts. In the present instance this movable member is disk-like in form and extends into the cavity 22. It is provided with a central boss 33 which extends into a recess 34 in the base and serves as a guide, the end of the boss being spaced normally from the closed end of the recess to permit the movable member to have axial movement, as well as rotary movement, with relation to the base. The movable member 32 is provided on its rear or inher surface with contactors 35 and 3% which, in the present instance, are arranged on opposite sides of the axis of the me-mber'and adapted to be moved into bridging engagement with selected pairs of contacts in the cavity 22. The movable member is yieldably pressed toward the stationary contacts and, in the present instance, the movable member 32 and the base are provided with alined openings 31 and 38 through which extends a tightly coiled spring 39 which is con.- nected at its outer end with a suitable part adapted to form a stop, such as a screw 39a the head of which is preferably located in a recess in the outer side of the movable member. The

other end of the spring is provided with a suitable loop or eye 4| adapted to receive a pin 42 which extends across the end of the opening 38 in the base and is preferably located in a recess 43 in the rear or inner side of the base. In assembling the device the spring is inserted through the alined openings and a suitable implement engaged with the eye 4| and the spring stretched to move the eye beyond the end of the opening 38 and thus permit the pin to be inserted, after which the spring is released and the pin engages the shoulder at the rear end of the opening 38 to hold the spring under tension. This spring forms the sole connection between the movable member 32 and the base and thus serves not only as a pressure device but also as a pivot for the movable member. The disk-like movable member 32 is of a diameter less than the diameter of the cavity 22 and the boss 33 is of a less diameter than the recess 34, so as to provide a clearance between th movable member and the base which will enable the movable member to have a slight lateral movement with relation to the base and to tilt about an axis transverse to the axis of rotation, in all directions, and thus permit the contactors 35 and 36, under the influence of the central spring 39, to adjust themselves to the selected stationary contacts and'to engage the respective contacts with substantially equal resilient pressure. Preferably the contacts which are to be bridged by the contactors have their contact surfaces inclined so that they converge toward the end wall of the cavity 22 and. as here shown, the terminal contacts 23 to 26 have frustoconical ends and the jumper contacts 2'! and 28 are in the form of lugs beveled on one edge. The contactors 35 and 36 are of such length that they will enter the space between the contacts which are to be bridged and their ends are preferably beveled or rounded to enable them to engage the converging contact surfaces of the stationary contacts with a camming or wedging action which provides a very firm engagement therewith. When the movable member is rotated, as by means of a finger piece 44, each movable contactor will ride up the inclined surface of one of the contacts with which it is in engagement and move across the end of that contact toward another bridging position, and as soon as the inclined ends of the contactors overlap the inclined surfaces of the selected stationary contacts the contactors will be moved by the spring 39 into firm engagement with said inclined surfaces, with what is in efiect a snap action, the inclined or cam surfaces of the contacts serving to accurately position the contactors with relation thereto.

In the particular embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6 the contacts are arranged for use as a voltage changer and are connected in circuits as shown in F g. '7. As there illustrated the contact 24 is connected with one side 45 of a main current supply line and the contact 26 is connected with the other side 46 of said main line. The contacts 23 and 24 are connected with the respective ends of one of the motor windings 41 and the contacts 25 and 26 are connected with the respective ends of a second motor winding 48. With the contactor 35 in engagement with the contacts 23 and 21 and the contactor 36 in engagement with the contacts 25 and 28, as shown in full lines in Fig. 7, the current will flow from the line 45 through contact 24, winding 4 contact 23, contactor 35, contact 27, jumper 3|, contact 28, contactor 36, contact 25, winding 48 and contact 26 to the other side 46 of the main line and the two windings will be connected in series. When the contactors 35 and 36 are in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7, where the contactor 35 connects contacts 23 and 26 and the contactor 36 connects contacts 24 and 25, the current from the side 45 of the line will divide at contact 24 and a part of that current will flow through the winding 47, contact 23, contactor 35, and contact 26 to the side 46 of the line, the other part of the current will flow through the contactor 36, contact 25, winding 48, and contact 26, to the side 46 of the line, thus connecting the two windings in parallel.

It is desirable that the movable member should have but two operative positions and that it should be positively prevented from moving substantially beyond either operative position. In the present construction the flange 2| of the base has a portion of its edge cut away to provide a recess 49 and the finger piece 44 is provided with an extension 50 which extends into that recess, the ends of the recess forming stops which positively limit the rotatory movement of the movable member 32 in both directions. Preferably the base is provided with indicating marks, such as the numbers 110 and 220. with which cooperates a suitable pointer carried by the movable member and which,.in the present instance, is formed by the tapered end 5! of the finger piece 44. When the movable member is at one limit of its rotatory movement the pointer will be directed toward the number 220. indicating that the windings are connected for operation on 220 volts. and when the movable member is at the other limit of its rotatory movement the pointer will be directed toward the number 110. indicating that the windings are connected for operation on 110 volts. If desired, the device when installed on the motor may be enclosed by a suitable housing which will exclude dirt and combustible gases and is here shown as a hollow cap 52 having screw threaded connection with the motor frame.

In Fig. 8 I have illustrated an arrangement of the device adapted for reversing the direction of flow of the current through an electric motor or other electrical power translating device. In this embodiment the construction and arrangement of the base. movable member and contactors is substantially identical with that heretofore described and the same number of stationary con,

tacts are employed in substantially the same a rangement but have different electrical connections. As there shown, the contact 54 is connected with one side 55 of the main line and the con tact 56 is connected with the other side 5'. of the main line. The contact 58 is connected with one end of a motor winding 59 and the contact 60 is connected with the other end of that motor winding. The contact 6| is connected with the con tact 60 by a ,iumper 62 and the contact 63 is connected with the contact 56 by a jumper 64. When the contactors, indicated at 65 and 66, are in the full line positions shown in Fig. 8, in which the contact 54 is connected with the contact 58 and the contact 56 is connected with the contact 66, the current from the side 55 of the line will flow through the contact 54, contactor 65, contact 53, through the winding 59 in the direction of the full line arrow, through the contact 69, contactor 5s and contact 56 to the other side 51 of the main line. When the contactors are shifted to their dotted line positions, to connect the contact 54 with the contact 6|, and the contact 56 with the contact 63, the current will flow from the side 55 of the main line through contact 54, contactor 65, contact BI, jumper 62, contact 69, through the winding 59 in the direction of the dotted line arrow, contact 58, jumper 64, contact 63, contactor 66, contact 56 to the side 51 of the main line, thus causing the current to flow in a reverse direction and reversing the direction of operation of the motor.

In Fig. 9 I have shown another arrangement of contacts in which the current may be reversed by the use of four contacts only. As there shown, the contact 6'! is connected to one side of the main line 68 and the contact 69 is connected with the other side I9 of the main line. The contact H is connected with one end of the winding I2 and the contact I3 is connected with the other end of that winding. When the contactors I4 and 15 are in their full line positions the current will flow from the side 98of the main line through contact 61, contactor I5, contact "I3, and through the winding 12 in the direction of the full line arrow, through contact II, contactor I4, and contact 69 to the side '19 of the main line. When the contactors are moved to their dotted line positions the current will flow from the line 68 through contact 61, contactor I5, contact 'II, through the winding 12 in the direction of the dotted line arrow, through contact 13, contactor I4 and contact 89 to the side I9 of the main line.

In Fig. 10 I have illustrated another arrangement constituting a reversing switch for a motor of that type which embodies a main winding and two starting windings, the latter being so arranged that when energized one of them will start the motor in one direction and the other will start the motor in the other direction. In this form the structural features are similar to those above described, and the base 29 is again provided with six stationary contacts. The contact I8 is connected with one end of the main winding 19, the other end of which is connected with one side 89 of the main line, and the contact BI is connected with the other side 82 of the main line. The contact 83 is connected with one end of the starting winding 84, the other end of which is connected directly with the side 89 of the main line. The contact 85 is connected to one end of a second starting winding 86, the other end of which is connected directly with the side 89 of the main line. A contact 81 is connected by a jumper 88 with the contact I8 and the contact 89 is connected by a jumper 99 with the contact 8I. With the contactors 9| and 92 in the positions indicated in full lines, a part of the current from the main line flows through the main winding I9, contact "I8, contactor 92 and contact 8| to side 82 ofthe main line, and another part of the current from the side 89 of the main line will flow through the starting winding 86, contact 85. contactor 9|, contact 89, jumper 99 and contact 8! to the side 82 of the main line. When the contactors are moved clockwise to their dotted line positions a part of the current will flow from the side. 89 of the mainline through the main winding I9, contact I8, jumper 88, contact 81, contactor 92 and contact 8! to the side 82 of the main line, and another part of the current from the line 89 will flow through the starting winding 84, contact 83, contactor 9|, contact 89, jumper 99, and contact BI to the side 82 of the main line. Thus when the contactors are in one position the current will flow through one starting winding to start the motor in one direction and when the contactors are in another position the current will flow through the other starting winding to start the motor in the other member I99.

direction, current flowing through the main winding in the same direction in both positions of the contactors. When the contactors are in intermediate positions, in which they would respectively engage the contacts SI and 89 only, all circuits are broken and the motor is idle.

In Fig. 12 I have shown another form of the device which is adapted to simultaneously connect a plurality of contacts in selected pairs. The base 29 and rotatable member 32 are substantially identical with those heretofore described. The base may be provided with any suitable number of contacts, preferably arranged in circular series. As here shown, the contacts are arranged in three groups and each group includes three contacts, 94, 95 and 96. The circuit connections for the contacts are not shown as they will vary according to the use to which the device is to be put. The rotatable member is provided with three contactors 91 arranged to cooperate respectively with the several groups of stationary contacts, each contactor being of such length that it will connect the central contact of each group with either of the other contacts of that group. When the rotatable member is in the position shown in Fig. 12 the contacts 94 and 95 of each group will be connected one with the other and when the rotatable member is moved clockwise the contacts 95 and 96 will be connected one to the other. Obviously the number and arrangement of the contacts and contactors may be varied to conform to the particular use to which the device is to be put.

In Figs. 13, 14 and 15 I have shown a form of the device adapted to control a relatively large number of circuits. The base I99 is similar in construction to the base 29 and is provided with an outer series of contacts which, in the present instance, includes three pairs of contacts IN, and is also provided with an inner series of contacts which, as here shown, comprises six contacts I92 spaced equal distances apart. Two pairs of contactors, I93 and I94, and I95 and I96 are provided to cooperate with the respective series of stationary contacts. In order that the several contactors may adjust themselves into firm engagement with the respective pairs of contacts they are carried by separate rotatable members. As is shown the outer contactors I93 and I94 are carried by a main rotatable element I91 which is similar to the rotatable member heretofore described except that it is provided in its inner side with a cavity I98. Mounted in this cavity is a second rotatable member I99 which is connected with the outer member I91 for rotation therewith, as by means of lugs II9 carried by the inner member and extending into slots I I I in the outer member. The contactors I93 and I94 are arranged on diametrically opposite sides of the axis of the outer rotatable member I 91 and the contactors I95 and I96 are arranged on diametrically opposite sides of the inner rotatable The contactors of the two pairs are arranged in transverse alinement. It will be obvious, however, that the several contactors may be arranged in any desired relative positions. The outer member I! is connected with the base I99 by a coiled spring H2 and the inner member I99 is connected with the base by a coiled spring II3 of larger diameter than the spring H2 and arranged about the same, both being connected with the pin I I4 which holds them under tension, thereby causing each rotatable member to be separately pressed toward the respective stationary contacts.

The outer rotatable member is or such size as to provide clearance between the same and the base and thus permit it to tilt in the manner heretofore described. The inner member I09 is of slightly smaller diameter than the cavity #08 and the lugs H are of smaller size than the recesses I ll, thereby providing a clearance between the two members and permitting both members to tilt with relation one to the other and with relation to the base, whereby the contactors will automatically adjust themselves into firm engagement with the selected pairs of contacts.

In the arrangement shown the rotatable members may be actuated to move one or the other of the outer contactors 83 or 94 into bridging relation to one or the other or" the outer pairs of contacts and when so positioned there will be no connection between any of the contacts of the inner series. When adjusted to other positions the inner contactors I85 and $06 will simultaneously bridge two pairs of contacts [02 of the inner series and none of the contacts of the outer series will be connected. It will be understood of course that the nLLnber and arrangement of the contacts and contactors may be varied according to the use to which the device is to be put.

While I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the details thereof as various modifications may occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a circuit controlling device, two rigid members at least one of which is biased toward the other and one of which is tiltable with relation to the other, a plurality of contacts carried by one of said members in opposed relation to the other member and adapted to be connected in pairs, and a plurality of contacts carried by the other member and provided with not less than two or more than three pairs of contact surfaces arranged to engage a corresponding number of pairs of the first mentioned contacts, said contacts being shaped and arranged to cause the contacts on said tiltable member to be wedged into lateral engagement with the cooperating contacts on the other member and to permit said tiltable member to have pivotal movement about two axes with relation to said cooperating contacts.

2. In a circuit controlling device, two opposed rigid members at least one of which is biased toward the other, a plurality of contacts carried by one of said members and adapted to be selectively connected in pairs, a plurality of contactors carried by the other of said members, there being not less than two or more than three such contactors, one of said members being tiltable to enable said contactors to have simultaneous engagement with selected pairs of contacts, said contactors and said contacts being shaped and arranged to permit each contactor to have both lateral movement and pivotal movement to cause the same to firmly engage both contacts of the selected pair of contacts, and to permit said contactor to have pivotal movement about a second axis transverse to the axis of the first mentioned pivotal movement.

3. In a circuit controlling device, two opposed rigid members at least one of which is biased toward the other, a plurality of contacts carried by one of said members and adapted to be selectively connected in pairs, a plurality of contactors carried by the other of said members, there being not less than two or more than three such contactors, one of said members being tiltable to enable said contactors to have simultaneous engagement with selected pairs of contacts, each contactor being arranged to have lateral wedging engagement with the contacts of the selected pair of contacts and the cooperating contact surfaces being shaped to permit said contactor to have pivotal movement about two axes with relation to said pair of contacts.

4. In a circuit controlling device, a non-rotatable rigid member, a rotatable rigid member mounted in opposed relation to said non-rotatable member for tilting movement with relation thereto, at least one of said members being biased toward the other member, a plurality of contacts carried by said non-rotatable member and adapted to be connected in pairs, a plurality of contactors carried by said rotatable member and each adapted to bridge a pair of said contacts and each contactor being arranged to have lateral wedging engagement with the bridged contacts at points spaced from the bottoms thereof and having its contact surfaces curved substantially about a common axis transverse to the axis of rotation of said rotatable member.

5. In a circuit controlling device, two opposed rigid members biased one toward the other, contacts carried by one of said members, contractors carried by the other member and each adapted to bridge a pair of contacts on the first mentioned member, one of said members being tiltable with relation to the other member and said contacts and said contactors being so shaped that each point of engagement will comprise a narrow arcuate surface arranged to permit said tiltable member to move about two intersecting axes, whereby all of said contactors may be brought into firm engagement with both contacts of the respective pairs of contacts.

6. In a circuit controlling device, a base, a plurality of stationary contacts mounted on said base and arranged to be connected in pairs, a member biased toward said base and mounted for rotary movement and for axial movement with relation thereto, and contactors carried by said member and movable thereby into bridging relation respectively with selected pairs of stationary contacts, the stationary contacts of each pair being arranged to permit the bridging contactor to enter the space between them and said member being tiltable about a plurality of axes to cause said contactors to engage the respective contacts with substantially equal pressure.

7. In a circuit controlling device, a base, a plurality of stationery contacts mounted on said base substantially in a common plane and arranged to be connected in pairs, the contacts of each pair having surfaces converging toward said base, a member mounted on said base for both rotatory and axial movement with relation thereto, contactors mounted on said member and movable thereby into a position between and in engagement with the converging surfaces of selected pairs of contacts, and means for yieldably pressing said member toward said base, said member being free to so adjust itself that said contactors will have firm engagement with each contact of the respective pairs of contacts.

8. In a circuit controlling device, a base. a plurality of stationary contacts mounted on said base substantially in a common plane and arranged to be connected in pairs, the contacts of each pair having contact surfaces converging toward said base, a member mounted on said base for both rotatory movement and axial movement with relation thereto, a plurality of contactors carried by said member and movable thereby into engagement respectively with the converging surfaces of selected pairs of contacts, said member being tiltable about a plurality of transverse axes to enable said contactors to have simultaneous engagement with the contacts of the respective pairs of contacts, and a spring acting on said member to press said contactors toward said contacts.

9. In a circuit controlling device, a base, a plurality of contacts mounted on said base, a member mounted on said base for limited rotatory, axial and lateral movement with relation thereto and for tilting movement about a plurality of transverse axes, contactors carried by said member and movable thereby respectively intobridging relation to selected pairs of contacts, the contacts of each pair being arranged to enable the bridging contactor to engage the same with a Wedging action to move about two intersecting axes with relation thereto, and yieldable means for pressing said member toward said base and imparting, thereto such lateral and tilting movements as may be required to provide substantially equal contact pressure of said contactors on each contact. of the selected pairs of contacts.

10. In an electric switch of the conventional multiple pole double throw type, two elements arranged in operative relation one to the other, a plurality of contacts rigidly secured to each element, the contacts on at least one of said elements having inclined contact surfaces, said elements being biased one toward the other and being relatively movable to effect selective engagement between the contacts carried by the respective elements, one of said elements being tiltable about a plurality of transverse axes to enable said engagement to be efiected with substantially equal pressure at each point of contact engagement.

11. In an electric switch of the conventional multiple pole double throw type, a normally stationary element, a plurality of pairs of contacts rigidly secured to said, element, a second element, and a plurality of contactors secured to said second element, saidsecond element being rotatable to engage said contactors with selected pairs of contacts on said stationary element, the contacts of each pair being arranged to permit the engaging contactor to enter the space between the same and said second element being biased toward said stationary element, one of said elements being tiltable about a plurality of transverse axes to cause said contactors to engage each contact of the selected pairs of contacts with substantially equal pressure.

12. In a voltage changer for an electric motor or the like, two pairs of contacts mounted on said base and having means for connecting the same respectively with different parts of the motor circuit, a third pair of contacts mounted on said base and connected one with the other, a member mounted on said base for rotatory movement with relation thereto, and contactors carried by said member and movable by the rotation of said member into a position to connect the two contacts of each of the first mentioned pairs one With the other, or into a position to connect one contact of each of said first mentioned pairs with the respective contacts of said third pair.

13. In a voltage changer for an electric motor or the like, two pairs of contacts mounted on said base and having means for connecting the same respectively with different parts of the motor circuit, a third pair of contacts mounted on said base and connected one with the other, a member mounted on said base for rotatory movement with relation thereto, and contactors carried by said member and movable by the rotation of said vmember into a position to connect the two contacts of each of the first mentioned pairs one with the other, or into a position to connect one contact of each of said first mentioned pairs with the respective contacts of said'third pair, said member and said base having parts cooperating to positively prevent the movement of said member beyond either of said positions.

14. In a voltage changer for an electric motor or the like, a base, a plurality of contacts mounted on said base substantially in a common plane,- a part of said contacts having means for connecting the same in a motor circuit, and a part of said contacts being permanently connected one with the other, a member mounted on said base for rotatory movement about an axis transverse to said plane, and bridging contactors carried by said member and movable by the rotation thereof into bridging relation to selected pairs of contacts, said contactors being movable transversely to said plane with relation one to the other to enable each contractor to firmly engage said contacts.

15. In a voltage changer for an electric motor or the like, a base, a plurality of contacts mounted on said base substantially in a common plane, a part of said contacts having means for connecting the same with the motor circuit, and a part of said contacts being permanently connected one with the other, a member mounted on said base for rotatory movement about an axis transverse to said plane, contactors carried by said member and movable by the rotation thereof into bridging relation'to selected pairs of contacts, said member being tiltable with relation to said base and the contacts of each pair being arranged to permit thebridging contactor to enter the space between the same, and a spring acting on said member to press the latter into engagement with the respective contacts.

16. In a reversing switch, a base, a plurality of contacts mounted on said base substantially in a common plane, part of said contacts having means for connecting the same ina circuit, and another part of said contacts each being permanently connected with another contact,-a member mounted on said base for rotation about an axis transverse to said plane, contactors carried by said member and movable by the rotation thereof either into positions to connect the first mentioned contacts in pairs independently of the last mentioned contacts, or into positions to connect the last mentioned contacts respectively with contacts of the first mentioned part, and means for maintaining said contactors in firm engagement with selected contacts.

17. In a reversing switch, a base, a plurality of pairs of contacts mounted on said base substantially in a common plane, two pairs of said con,- tacts having means for connecting the same in a circuit and a third pair of said contacts being permanently connected with contacts of the respective first mentioned pairs, a member mounted on said base for rotation about an axis transverse to said plane, contactors carried by said member and movable by the rotation thereof either into bridging relation to the contacts of the respective first mentioned pairs or into bridging relation with one contact of each of the first mentioned pairs and the respective contacts of said third pair, and means for maintaining said contactors in firm engagement with selected contacts.

18. In a reversing switch, a base, a plurality of pairs of contacts mounted on said base substantially in a Common plane, two pairs of said contacts having means for connecting the same in a circuit and a third pair of said contacts being permanently connected with contacts of the respective first mentioned pairs, a member mounted on said base for rotation about an axis transverse to said plane, contactors carried by said member and movable by the rotation thereof either into bridging relation to the contacts of the respective first mentioned pairs or into bridging relation with one contact of each of the first mentioned pairs and the respective contacts of said third pair, said member being tiltable with relation to said base and said contacts being arranged to permit the bridging contactor to enter the spaces between the same, and means for yieldably pressing said member toward said contacts.

19. In a reversing switch, a base, three pairs of contacts mounted on said base, the first and second pairs of contacts having means for connecting the same in a circuit and the contacts of the third pair being separately and permanently connected with the respective contacts of the first pair, a member mounted for rotatory movement with relation to said base, two contactors carried by said member and movable thereby into bridging relation to selected contacts, said contacts being so arranged that when said member is in one position one of said contactors will connect the contacts of the first pair one to the other and the other contactor will connect one contact of the third pair with one contact of the second pair, and when said member is in another position the last mentioned contactor will connect said contact of the third pair with the other contact of the second pair and the first mentioned contactor will connect with the other contact of the third pair with that contact of the first pair with which it is not permanently connected, and means acting on said member to cause said contactors to engage each of said contacts with substantially equal pressure.

20. In a circuit controlling device, a base, a plurality of contacts mounted on said base and arranged in two series, a member mounted on said base for rotatory movement with relation thereto, contactors carried by said member and movable thereby into bridging relation to selected contacts of one series, a second member mounted on said base and connected with the first mentioned member for rotatory movement therewith, and

21. In a circuit controlling device, a base, a

plurality of contacts mounted on said base and arranged in two series, a member mounted on said base for rotatory movement with relation thereto, contactors carried by said member and,

movable thereby by bridging relation to selected contacts of one series, a second member mounted on said base and connected with the first mentioned member for rotatory movement therewith,

contactors carried by said second member for movement thereby into bridging relation to selected contacts of the other series, said members being tiltable with relation one to the other and with relation to said base, and spring means for pressing said members toward the contacts of the respective series.

22. In a circuit controlling device, a base provided in one side thereof with a circular cavity, two series of contacts mounted on said base and extending into said cavity, a disk-like member mounted in said cavity for rotatory movement,

axial movement and tilting movement with relation to said base, said member having a cavity in its inner side, contactors carried by said memher and movable thereby into bridging engagement with selected contacts of one series, a second member mounted in the cavity in the first mentioned member for axial and tilting movement with relation to said first mentioned member and to said base and connected with said first mentioned member for rotatory movement therewith, contactors carried by said second member and movable thereby into bridging engagement with selected contacts of the other series, and separate springs acting on the respective members to press the same toward said contacts.

GEORGE H. LELAND. 

